Local News
Victims Identified in Fatal Plane Crash Near Nanwalek on Kenai Peninsula
Alaska State Troopers have confirmed that a small commercial aircraft crash on Monday afternoon on the Kenai Peninsula claimed the lives of the pilot and a passenger, while a second passenger remains hospitalized with serious injuries.
The aircraft, operated by Homer-based Smokey Bay Air, was on a scheduled flight from Homer to the remote village of Nanwalek when it crashed during its landing attempt.
The incident occurred shortly before 2:00 p.m. on April 28, 2025, near the Nanwalek Airport.
On Tuesday, troopers identified the pilot as 48-year-old Daniel Bunker of Homer.
One of the passengers, 37-year-old Jenny Miller of Anchorage, was also pronounced dead at the scene.
A second male passenger, who has not yet been publicly identified, sustained critical injuries and was medevaced to an Anchorage hospital for emergency treatment.
The Alaska State Troopers reported that multiple 911 calls alerted authorities to the crash. Local first responders and volunteers were the first to arrive and began administering aid to the three occupants aboard the plane.
A National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator accompanied troopers to the crash site to begin the official investigation.
According to NTSB Alaska Chief Clint Johnson, the crash occurred during the landing phase at Nanwalek Airportโa notoriously difficult airstrip due to its curved gravel runway, with only approximately 850 feet of usable landing surface.
Nanwalek, located at the mouth of Cook Inlet, is home to about 200 residents and relies heavily on small aircraft for access to and from the community.
The coordinated emergency response included assistance from Guardian Flight, LifeMed Alaska, Maritime Helicopters, the U.S. Coast Guard, and Alaska State Park rangers.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Further details will be released as the NTSB continues to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Local News
Cessna Aircraft Crashes Into Field During Takeoff Attempt in Batavia, Ohio; Instructor and Student Reportedly Uninjured
BATAVIA, Ohio (Clermont County) โ A Cessna aircraft went down into a field after an unsuccessful takeoff attempt near Sportyโs Pilot Shop in Batavia, Ohio, according to preliminary incident information.
Both occupants, a flight instructor and a student pilot, reportedly escaped the incident without injuries.
The aircraft crash was reported near 2001 Sportyโs Drive in Batavia, in Clermont County. Initial information indicates that the Cessna failed to take off and went down into a nearby field.
Two people were aboard the aircraft at the time of the incident. They were identified in the initial report as a flight instructor and a student pilot.
Both occupants reportedly exited the aircraft and were reported to be uninjured. According to the preliminary information, they were being transported back to Sportyโs Pilot Shop following the incident.
No injuries were reported in the information provided, although further official confirmation may be needed.
The incident occurred in the area of Sportyโs Drive in Batavia, a community in Clermont County, Ohio. The aircraft reportedly entered a field after failing to become airborne during its takeoff attempt.
Details about the aircraftโs condition, the precise circumstances of the failed takeoff and whether emergency crews or aviation investigators responded were not immediately available in the initial report.
The cause of the incident has not been established, and no additional information about possible damage to the aircraft was provided.
This is a developing story. Further details may become available as authorities confirm the circumstances surrounding the incident.